Zakk Wylde has announced the next chapter in the Black Label Society story, Catacombs of the Black Vatican.
The album, the first disc of all new material from the band since 2010’s Order of the Black, will be released April 8.
Wylde also has announced a new tour, “An Evening with Zakk Wylde.” The 13-city Canadian trek will feature Wylde and new Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina performing intimate versions of some of BLS’s most popular songs, plus readings from Wylde’s 2012 book, Bringing Metal to the Children: The Complete Berzerker’s Guide to World Tour Domination. You can check out all the tour dates below.
I recently spoke with Wylde about the new BLS album and upcoming tour and got his thoughts on Black Sabbath’s Grammy nomination.
GUITAR WORLD: What can fans expect from Catacombs of the Black Vatican?
I think everyone can expect a lot of fun and excitement [laughs]! It was like what Chris Farley did in that one skit, where he was selling that hair-care product. Make sure you always use the word “fun” when you describe it [laughs]!
Someone asked me what the difference was between this new record and the other nine. I told them that it’s basically all of the songs we used on the other nine records, except they’ve got different titles now [laughs]. It’s fun and exciting for the whole family!
Read the rest of my Guitar World Interview with Zakk Wylde by Clicking Here!
It’s been nearly 25 years since the members of Autograph completed their three-album deal with RCA records and mutually decided to go their own separate ways.
For guitarist Steve Lynch, that departure also meant the opportunity to get more involved in writing, teaching and hosting guitar clinics. Eventually, Lynch made his way back to his native Seattle and opened the Federal Way School of Music, where he continues to demonstrate, among other things, his legendary two-handed technique.
After a long hiatus, Lynch and bassist Randy Rand have reunited Autograph in 2014. Together with new singer Simon Daniels, the band plans to tour extensively — with shows that already include the Monsters of Rock Cruise, M3 and Firefest — before returning to the studio to record new material.
I spoke with Lynch about the reunion, his music and Autograph’s unique first gig in 1984.
GUITAR WORLD: It’s been 25 years since we last saw Autograph. What sparked this reunion?
In 2011, I saw Randy down at the NAMM show, and the two of us started kicking around the idea of doing a reunion. We saw a lot of bands out doing a “weekend warrior” sort of thing, and since I run a music studio and teach during the week, I thought it would be a great way to do it. We got our original drummer Keni Richards involved in early rehearsals, but he had to back out due to health issues.
Read the rest of my Guitar World Interview with Steve Lynch by Clicking Here
Guitarist Tim Butler’s love of music goes back much further than the twenty years he’s been performing in the Philadelphia area. From his early years singing in boys choirs, to his stints in high school musicals and teaching himself to play the instrument he loves, Butler is the pure definition of singer songwriter.
His catchy, hook ridden original songs have received lavish praise and his tasteful renditions of songs by such artists as Crowded House and Mister Mister have been pleasing audiences for more than two decades. But the thing that really makes Butler unique is that he’s just as comfortable performing solo as he is with a full-band; both of which being a must see.
Butler took a bit of a hiatus in 2013, but will return to his native Lehigh Valley for a show at the Nazareth Center for the Arts on Saturday, January 18th. In addition, he’s also been working on a CD of brand new material that’s expected to be released in February. I spoke with him about both and more in this exclusive interview.
Tell me a little about your upcoming show.
The show will feature 2 performers. Opening will be a musician by the name of “Not for Coltrane.” He’s local to the Lehigh Valley and has a very cool alt-folk-rock type of sound. Due to some of the constraints of the venue, I will not be playing full-band and instead will be doing a duo performance with my long time bass player, Rick Delana.
How would you describe the sound of your music?
I have really been described as many things: rock, pop, alt folk, alt country, folk rock, it goes on an on. Hearing that entertains me, but it also makes me realize that listeners can hear a lot of different things. I will tell you that I cut my teeth on pop and rock. Structurally, most of my songs are pop tunes. I love hooks and big choruses! But there is definitely a “rock” sound to many of my tunes, especially when I’m playing with the full band.
What are your thoughts on performing cover material?
I’m primarily an artist that does original music but I do enjoy sprinkling in some covers. Sometimes I’ll play something because someone asks me to, but 90% of the time the covers that I do really mean something to me or sometimes its just because I like the song or band.
Can you give us an update on your new CD?
It’s likely the new recording will be ready to drop by early to mid February. Most of the tracking is completed. There’s still some lead guitar work that needs to be done and then we are on to mixing and engineering.
Is there a particular song from the new CD that excites you?
One of my faves from the new CD is a song called “We’ll Be Happy.” It comes from a place that is my bread and butter: pop, with lush harmonies. It may sound a little “Beach Boys”, but I’m ok with that. I went in that direction with the instrumentation and harmonies. I didn’t fight it at all. In fact, with this CD I decided at the outset to just let the songs go wherever they wanted to go. Every song on this release I just let happen.
What’s your songwriting process like?
I am primarily a music first kind of guy. Sometimes a song will start with just a riff or a chorus structure or sometimes it might just be a “sound.” From there, I usually work through melody lines, etc. By that time, I’ve typically created a theme in my head and create lyrics based on that. It’s really worked well for me.
When did you first get bitten by the music bug?
I started singing at a very young age. I was in a touring boys choir starting in 5th grade and sang in choirs and in stage performances for a very long time. I took piano lessons for a short while and didn’t pick up a guitar until my senior year of college.
Tell me a little about your music experience in high school.
I have a lot of very fond memories of high school. It was there that I decided that I wanted to stick with music. It solidified that I would have music in my life in some organized fashion even if I didn’t major in it in college.
Coming into EAHS [Easton Area High School], I was actually all “choired out” and avoided singing all together. I remember people were always trying to get me involved, but I just wasn’t into it. Then one day, Ed Milisits [EAHS choir director] tracked me down and “drafted” me. I remember he was very persuasive about it and I ended up joining the Concert Choir and also being in a few school musicals. Those years were a big part of my life.
What are you most looking forward to in 2014?
I have been doing this pretty much non-stop since 1994 and last year decided to take a bit of a break (although I did perform a few random shows and at fundraising events). I discovered that I really missed making music, so getting back in the studio was GREAT! I’m very excited about 2014. Although I won’t be setting out onto a full-fledged tour, I will be doing more shows that give me the opportunity to share some music. For me, I’m blown away with everything I’ve been blessed with over the years and am just so thankful! Musically, I hope to continue to do something that I really love to do. If someone likes it, loves it or it can mean something to them, then that’s a huge win for me.
Tim Butler Will Perform at the Nazareth Center for the Arts
30 Belvidere St. Nazareth, PA 18064 January 18th, 2014 @ 7:00pm
Tickets are $8 in advance / $10 @ door
For more on Tim Butler, check out his ReverbNation site by Clicking Here!
This year, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite guitarists Greg Howe about his new project Maragold.
Greg grew up in my hometown of Easton, PA and cut his teeth in many of the same clubs I performed at, so having that connection and getting to speak with him about it was especially cool.
Maragold also features the killer vocals of powerhouse Meghan Krauss, someone else I had the opportunity to speak with. Meghan is the real deal with a voice that Howe himself has often compared to a distortion pedal that she can activate at will. A prophetic metaphor that accurately describes the blonde beauty.
Maragold has just release a new video from their debut album. Check out the song, Paradigm Tsunami:
Greg and the band have been nominated to perform at this year’s Grammy Gig of a Lifetime Concert event. A voting competition where the winner will play in Los Angeles at Club Nokia and open for The Neighbourhood! Let’s help them get there!
You can vote every day and it’s super easy to do:
1. To vote at CBS.com, visit this link: http://bit.ly/18GtFUg
(after you vote once, hit the MAX VOTES)
2. To vote on Twitter, just tweet “I’m voting for #maragold to win the #SurfaceGRAMMYGig”
3. To vote on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GigOfALifetimeCBS and post a message with these two hashtags: #maragold and #SurfaceGRAMMYGig.
(Note: you can vote TEN TIMES A DAY EACH on both Facebook & Twitter!!)
Voting ends on January 10th at 12:00pm PST!!!
For more information on Maragold be sure to check out their official website by Clicking Here.
The duo met last summer at a music festival and decided to collaborate on Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen Op. 20, an extremely challenging piece of music, particularly because it was written for violin and orchestra.
The Commander-In-Chief is also a classically trained opera singer and has harnessed her guitar skills in master classes with Steve Smyth (Testament, Nevermore). She also worked with producer Sterling Winfield (Pantera, Hellyeah, Damageplan) on her debut EP, Evolution.
I recently spoke with her about the physical and mental preparation it took to create the guitar duel. We also discussed her gear, influences and more.
GUITAR WORLD: How did you and Thomas Valeur connect, and what inspired you to take on such a challenging piece of music?
We met at the Bergen International Festival in Norway, where we shared the stage. Thomas first thought we would cover something more mainstream, but I wanted to play something classical and step into a different world for a change. I grew up listening to Itzhak Perlman’s violin recordings and the “Zigeunerweisen” was always a favorite. I normally don’t play other people’s music, but it was very motivating to work on something this challenging.
You can read the rest of my Guitar World interview with
The Commander-in-Chief by Clicking Here
Ever since she recorded her debut album with Prince and opened for him on his Diamonds and Pearls Tour, it’s been a burning passion for Carmen Electra to get back up on stage and perform in front of an audience.
Late in 2012, the former Singled Out, Baywatch beauty officially made her return to music with her infectious single “I Like It Loud”; a track that quickly hit the Top 25 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Chart.
As the follow-up to ‘I Like It Loud’ Electra’s back with her new single, ‘Werq’. Produced by Eddie Amador, it’s a fun, positive dance track that basically delivers on what it promises: Own what you’ve got… Know your worth … Make it hot.. Make it Werq.
Electra’s also making plans for a full-length album to coincide with US Tour in 2014. I spoke with her about the new single and more.
Was the success of your single “I Like It Loud” what sparked your return to music?
Ever since I recorded my self-titled album with Prince it’s been a passion of mine. That experience alone and then getting to go on tour with him was surreal. A lot of people probably don’t know this, but my original intention for moving to Los Angeles was to pursue music. For some reason though, it wasn’t meant to be at that time. I was going on auditions and getting offers for movies and TV shows and started modeling. That took off, but during this entire time [on and off again] I’ve also been working on music.
What satisfies you the most about the creative process?
The thing I love most is that I’m able to do whatever I want. With music, I’m not playing a role. It’s my project and it allows me more freedom to just be myself.
How did the new single, ‘Werq’ come about?
Orlando [Puerta] from Citrusonic actually worked with me on the record I did with Prince back when he worked at Warner Brothers. He has his own label now and it was through mutual friends that we connected again. He sent over the music track and I just loved the beat and the way it automatically made me want to dance. It really stood out and I could visually see how it would fit into the show that we’re putting together.
What can you tell me about your songwriting process?
I love music that makes me want to dance, but I’m not always in the “dance” or “party” mood, so sometimes we’ll go in and start experimenting. We’ve actually just finished recording a song that’s completely different from anything I’ve done yet. It’s all a learning process.
What other projects have you been working on?
I just finished my 2014 calendar for TF Publishing and am also working on a lingerie line. It’s a lot of work, but I love the challenge.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Clay Harris
Did you ever feel pressure or a need to compete when following Jenny McCarthy [Singled Out] or Pam Anderson [Baywatch]?
Absolutely. In one way, it was a huge accomplishment to be the replacement for Jenny and Pam. But on the other hand, there was always that sense of wanting to live up to what they’ve already done. I was so inspired by both of them so there was some pressure, but I tried to not let it take away from the experience. With ‘Singled Out’, it was especially memorable because my whole life literally changed in one day. I get the call and BAM! It was a new life. It was the same way with Baywatch. Both were important times in my life and career.
Do you ever foresee yourself getting more involved in the producing and directing side of things?
At some point I’d love to make the transition. I’ve seen and done a lot, so I think there will be a time where I’ll feel ready to get on the other side of things. But for now, I’m just loving what I do because it’s very fulfilling.
She’s been a model, video vixen, rock star wife and a reality TV star. But Bobbi Brown has taken things to an entirely different level as published author. The ex-wife of the late Warrant vocalist Jani Lane is dishing the dirt about the LA scene in her new tell-all book, “Dirty Rocker Boys: Love And Lust On The Sunset Strip.”
In it, Brown talks about her journey from Louisiana beauty queen to the glamorous life of LA. From her early modeling career and time spent on TV’s Star Search to how she became the infamous “Cherry Pie” girl in the Warrant video of the same name.
Brown also pulls no punches when it comes to detailing her sometimes stormy relationships with Lane, Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction) and even a young Leonardo DiCaprio; often going into vivid detail about the sex, drugs and debauchery that ran amok in the 90’s. Her book is a roller-coaster ride of emotion and a refreshingly quick read. More importantly, it’s an open and honest look at the life of a Louisiana girl who’s come full circle.
In addition to the release of Dirty Rocker Boys: Love And Lust On The Sunset Strip, Brown’s reality show along with other fellow rock ladies has just completed a second successful season. I spoke with her about the book as well as her relationship with Lane and the close circle of friends that’s become known as the Ex-Wives of Rock.
What made you decide to write a book?
I had read about a dozen or so rock books that I had been mentioned in. As I was reading the stories I just remember thinking, “Well, that’s not exactly right.” I felt the stories were more serving the ones who wrote them and weren’t really being accurate or honest. So I thought I would do a retort, but also have it be what life was like on the scene from a woman’s perspective.
What was the writing process like?
Caroline [Ryder] and I met and hit it off right away. She really got my sense of humor and what I was looking for and came back with the best perspective of my voice. There would be times where she would come over and we’d stay up all night just talking stories. I couldn’t have asked for better ghost writer. I wanted it to be realistic and for the reader to feel like they were one of my friends and I was talking to them about it.
After you arrived in LA, did you think that you would be immune to the drugs, sneaking around and cheating?
I think that when you get into a situation like I was in, you always sort-of believe in the back of your mind that somehow you’re “special” and that’s not going to happen to you. But that’s delusional. And the thing is it’s not even personal, but I think it’s the nature of the beast when it comes to dating a musician.
It’s been discussed that Jani’s time with Warrant was strained due to his addiction. What was his relationship like with other members of the band while you were with him?
They all got along well and never really had any serious rifts. It was “party scene-ish” and just very social. There were no serious emotional bonds or loyalties that I witnessed. In the same respect, they had known each other for quite a while and had history together. That’s why I was a little bothered after Jani passed that they didn’t make a bigger deal about it. I took that personally. I do know that he put them through a lot of grief, but I think that was part of his illness and addiction.
You mentioned your regret for not being there much for your daughter Taylar while she was growing up. Is there anything else you regret?
You know, I could actually sit here and say that I have a little bit of regret about all of the decisions that I’ve made. Looking back, you can always say things like ‘”Hey, maybe I should have done this differently or tried a little bit harder.” But I’m really grateful every day for what I have and I think that has a lot to do with the way things are going for me now. I’ve also learned that the more grateful you are, the less sad you are.
Did you discover anything else about yourself after you finished writing the book?
It was very cathartic. I didn’t go into it imagining that it would end up being therapeutic, but going through all of these stories opened up a lot things that I had suppressed over the years. Some of which I never really had any closure with. It was a nice release.
Let’s talk a little about “Ex-Wives of Rock”. What’s your relationship really like with the girls on the show?
Believe it or not, it’s exactly what you see on camera. We’ve known each other for more than 20 years so it’s very much like a family. We may have our battles, but it’s never a situation where one of us will say “I hate you and I’m never going to speak to you again!” We may fight and argue but at the end of the day, we all care for each other.
Ex-Wives of Rock(l to r): Bobbi Brown, Susan “Blue” Dixon, Athena Lee, Sharise Neil
Have any of the people you talked about in the book approached you to refute your side of things?
Knock on wood… Not yet! [laughs]. What I will say though is that it’s my own perspective of my story and I was very honest and open about it. I might have said things that some people didn’t want discussed or talked about, but it’s my life too. It is what it is. My favorite thing to say is “If you didn’t want anyone to find out about it, then maybe you shouldn’t have done it!” [laughs].
What advice would you give to people who might want to follow in your foot steps?
Don’t just think that you’re going to go out to LA and “give it a shot.” That kind of attitude just won’t fly. That’s when you can get caught up in the mistrust and be side tracked by opportunists. Make sure that it’s something you’re really passionate about and driven to do. It’s a crazy city and everyone here is here for a reason.
Is there a message you’d like people to take from reading your book?
I don’t want people to come away from it feeling sorry for me. When they finish the book, I want them to feel that my life has come full circle and maybe say “Good for her!” I want them to feel good about what they’ve read. I also don’t want them to feel like I was a victim, because I wasn’t. All of my life experiences were my own choice.
No one made me do any of the things I did. But in the end, they all made me the person that I am today.
Earlier this week, guitarist John Petrucci and Dream Theater announced a new series of North American dates, the “Along For The Ride” tour.
Following a set of European shows that begin early in January, a coast-to-coast run picks up on March 20 in Toronto and continues on through the end of April before wrapping up in Guadalajara, Mexico. The tour can also be labeled “An Evening with Dream Theater” because there will be no opening acts.
Petrucci and the band also have more reason to celebrate. The band recently earned their second Grammy nomination, this time for Best Metal Performance for the single “The Enemy Inside” from their self-titled 2013 album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart.
It’s been a busy year for south-paw guitarist Dee J Nelson.
In addition to creating his popular guitar lessons for Metal Method and offering private instruction, Nelson has contributed music to the upcoming Dope album, Blood Money, that’s set for release in 2014.
I spoke with Nelson and got an update on his collaboration with Edsel Dope as well as his new guitar program based on the Phrygian mode. He also explains why developing an understanding of modal theory can be an important tool for guitarists at any level.
GUITAR WORLD: How did you hook up with Edsel Dope?
I met him through my good friends at Wornstar Clothing, Stephen and Sylvia Jense
What can you tell us about the new Dope album? Release date? Sound?
The new album is called Blood Money and will likely be out in the summer of 2014. I’m excited that it will have at least four tracks that I co-wrote with Edsel. One of which is the first track, which already has a video in the can. It looks badass! Dope fans will be very pleased with the visuals and sound!
Read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Dee J Nelson by Clicking Here!
Shortly after his eighth place finish on American Idol in 2009 singer/songwriter Scott MacIntyre released an EP of Christmas music called “Christmas Angel.” Since that time, fans have been clamoring for a more full-length version of holiday themed material and MacIntyre’s new album, “Christmas In Paris” delivers the goods. His fresh take on traditional songs of the season combined with two original compositions (including the title track) is sure to become a part of holiday tradition.
2013 has been a big year for MacIntyre. In addition to the new Christmas album, he continues to speak around the country about his book “By Faith Not By Sight”, which tells his personal story about overcoming adversity. He’s also performed shows with the likes of The Band Perry, Jonas Brothers and Alice Cooper. MacIntyre even relocated from Arizona to Franklin, TN to be closer to the creative community and is in production for his next studio album with an anticipated Spring 2014 release.
I spoke to him about his music as well as his involvement with Donate Life America; an alliance of organizations and state teams across the U.S. committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation. Another subject that is near and dear to his heart.
What made you decide to do a Christmas album?
Shortly after I left Idol back in 2009, I did a Christmas EP that included my original song, “Christmas Angel”. Since then, my fans have been asking for one, so this is my first full-length Christmas album.
How did you determine which songs to include?
There are so many great Christmas songs, but in choosing material for the album I didn’t want to do anything that was too “surfacy”. I wanted to stay true to the melodies, but also wanted to dig into the atmosphere and sound scape of each song and create some really interesting textures.
Tell me a little about the title track, “Christmas In Paris”.
I wrote it with two amazing songwriters, Ryan Hydro and Aaron Steenhoven. Ryan was the one who came up with the title and as soon as I heard it, I knew it was going to be something that we could really dig into. Sure enough, once we started writing, we could all tell that it was going to be magical.
What can fans expect from your new album due next year?
The songs for the album will represent another arrival point for me. It’s been an incredible journey having the privilege of working with more amazing songwriters like Cindy Morgan, Steve Dean, Richie Fike and Kyle Lee. Every song on the new album relates to my story and I hope to everyone’s own story as well in some way. It’s going to be a very meaningful album.
Let’s discuss your musical background.
I actually started messing around on the piano when I was almost two. I think because of my blindness and not being able to experience the world visually like other people do, I was drawn more to the world of sound. I was just fascinated by hearing the pure tone. Up until I was 15 everything that I played was classical, but I remember my Dad would drive me to school and on the way we’d listen to the pop music station on the radio. It was one of the first times that I was exposed to bands like Creed, Train, Vertical Horizon and Tool. I started picking up on patterns in the music and realized that what they were doing was pretty much the same as classical music. It was just represented differently. It was different from a symphony in that you didn’t have to guess it’s interpretation to understand the story. The words and melody were right there. From that point, I started to think that if I could tell stories with my gift, it could be something that everyone could relate to. It would be a powerful way to connect with people and I knew right then that it was the direction that I wanted to go.
Tell me about how you came to be involved with Donate Life America.
When I was 19, I found out that I had Stage 4 kidney failure. It was a scary time and I went through a lot of adversity trying to figure out what my future was going to be like. I eventually became so sick that I was unable to play piano in my own home. Music is like living and breathing to me, so it was pretty devastating. I was on dialysis three times a week for hours on end having a machine do what my kidneys couldn’t. Then in 2007, the wife of my former piano teacher from college donated her kidney and saved my life. Less than a year later, I auditioned for American Idol. I never really talked about any of it until my book came out last year, but I wanted to share that part of my story with people.
When I met the president of Donate Life (David Fleming), I was instantly drawn to the organization and what they do. It’s something that I can really stand behind because I would not be here today if it wasn’t for that life saving gift. It’s so easy to become an organ donor. It only takes a few minutes to designate yourself as one and what better gift is there than to be able to give the gift of life to the thousands of people who are waiting for life saving transplants.
For more information on Donate Life America – Click Here!
Zakk Wylde has announced the next chapter in the Black Label Society story, Catacombs of the Black Vatican.
It’s been nearly 25 years since the members of Autograph completed their three-album deal with RCA records and mutually decided to go their own separate ways.
This year, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite guitarists 
Many guitar fans know about the Commander-In-Chief from the amazing guitar duel she recorded with Thomas Valeur.
Ever since she recorded her debut album with Prince and opened for him on his Diamonds and Pearls Tour, it’s been a burning passion for Carmen Electra to get back up on stage and perform in front of an audience.
She’s been a model, video vixen, rock star wife and a reality TV star. But Bobbi Brown has taken things to an entirely different level as published author. The ex-wife of the late Warrant vocalist Jani Lane is dishing the dirt about the LA scene in her new tell-all book, “Dirty Rocker Boys: Love And Lust On The Sunset Strip.”
What was the writing process like?
What advice would you give to people who might want to follow in your foot steps?
Earlier this week, guitarist John Petrucci and Dream Theater announced a new series of North American dates, the “Along For The Ride” tour.
It’s been a busy year for south-paw guitarist Dee J Nelson.
Shortly after his eighth place finish on American Idol in 2009 singer/songwriter Scott MacIntyre released an EP of Christmas music called “Christmas Angel.” Since that time, fans have been clamoring for a more full-length version of holiday themed material and MacIntyre’s new album, “Christmas In Paris” delivers the goods. His fresh take on traditional songs of the season combined with two original compositions (including the title track) is sure to become a part of holiday tradition.
go.Jimmy.go 